SURREY, B.C. — As summer holidays approach for elementary and high school students in British Columbia, RCMP in Surrey are urging parents to keep kids safe and to speak with them about easily available and deadly drugs.
In a letter to parents regarding fentanyl, assistant commissioner Bill Fordy says on the RCMP's website that a safe summer depends on caregivers understanding the risks linked to illicit drugs.
He says it's hard to tell if a child is thinking about experimenting or may have already tried illicit drugs, but warning bells could include increased secrecy about possessions, friends and activities.
Other signs may include use of incense, room deodorant or perfume to hide odours, and missing prescription drugs, especially narcotics and sedatives.
Fordy says Mounties and emergency health services in the Surrey detachment have responded to the second-highest number of illicit drug overdose deaths in the province this year.
Across B.C., health officials report a 75 per cent increase in illicit drug deaths, with fentanyl linked to more than half of them.
LETTER TO PARENTS REGARDING FENTANYL
Dear Parents,
The end of the school year is upon us and as you and your children prepare for summer vacation, we want to ensure that you are aware of some of the current risks with respect to illicit drugs so that you and your family can have a safe summer.
This year, the Surrey RCMP and emergency health services have responded to a number of drug overdoses. In fact, Surrey has the second highest number of illicit drug overdose deaths in the province this year.
The BC Coroners Service recently released a report on Illicit Drug Overdose Deaths in BC which shows that there were 308 illicit drug overdose deaths from January to May 2016. This is a 75% increase over 2015. Fentanyl was detected in over half of this year’s overdose deaths.
Fentanyl, new fentanyl equivalents, and W compounds are appearing in the illegal market, locally. Fentanyl is up to 100 times more toxic than morphine and a small amount can cause serious harm or death. W-18 is 100 times more powerful that fentanyl, making it over 10,000 times more potent than morphine.
Fentanyl is often found as a primary ingredient in fake Oxycodone tablets (see photo), fake Percocet tablets (see photo) and heroin. Police have also found other drugs contaminated with fentanyl, such as powder cocaine, crack cocaine, MDMA, and methamphetamine. Individuals who package and process drugs can unintentionally contaminate their other products with fentanyl, which can lead to an inadvertent overdose. You can’t see, smell, or taste it, and a drug user would have no idea if and how much fentanyl may be in the drug they are about to consume.
Despite our best efforts as parents, our children can easily be at-risk of drug use. They are young and influenced by people and factors outside of our control. In addition, a child’s susceptibility to drug use is not determined by their family’s socio-economic status or where they live. It is important to not assume your child hasn’t already or isn’t thinking about experimenting with drugs – it’s not always as obvious as we think.
And whether your child experiments with drugs for the first time or uses drugs regularly to ‘escape’ or fit in, serious harm or death is a very real possibility. Overdoses do not discriminate between the first time and the fiftieth time one takes drugs.
An important step to take in protecting your children is to talk to them about drugs – particularly the hidden nature of fentanyl and its lethal power. We have included some tips for talking to your child on the second page of this letter. Children often have more free time in the summer, so it is important that you keep an eye on their activities, mood and friends, and keep the dialogue open.
A letter to Surrey parents this summer about the dangers of fentanyl https://t.co/K6FxeCCot6 @Surrey_Schools pic.twitter.com/2mS2uacCLw
— Surrey RCMP (@SurreyRCMP) June 20, 2016
The Surrey RCMP and Surrey School District are committed to helping keep families safe. The Surrey RCMP recently launched a Parent Helpline (604-599-7800) that provides assistance to parents who are concerned about their children becoming involved in illegal activities. Through this helpline, parents can get in touch with our youth officers who can provide resources, police information, and intervention services. The Helpline is available in English, Punjabi, and French. I encourage you to reach out to us if you need assistance.
We wish you and your family a safe and enjoyable summer.
Sincerely,
Assistant Commissioner Bill Fordy
Officer in Charge, Surrey RCMP
